Bench.



W. F. BLAKE.

BENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1908.

1,008,007, 0 I Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20WASH1NGTON D c W. F. BLAKE.

BENCH.

APPLIOATION 111.111) MAY 25, 1908.

1,008,007. Patented N0v.7, 1911.

3 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E ay.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. BLAKE, 0F HARVEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MODEL KITCHEN EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1911.

Application filed May 25, 1908. Serial No. 434,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. BLAKn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Harvey, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Benches, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of my specification. My invention relates more particularly to an improvement in what may be termed a wasl1bench adapted to be used not only for the support of the wash-tubs but also for the attachment of the clothes-wringer.

The object of the invention is to provide a bench that may be employed for any purpose when not in use as a wash-bench, at which time it will present an unobstructed surface, which may be extended to provide a larger top without weakening the supporting-members.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bench with its top extended and the wringersupport in place; showing two tubs in dotted lines, and also the position of the water-shedding-member on the wringer-support. Fig. 2, is an end elevation looking at the right-hand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view of the bench taken approximately through the center and showing the lower ends of the \vringer-support also in section, taken just to one side of the latches. Fig. 4, is a longitudinal central sectional View of one end of the bench. Fig. 5, is a perspective View of a portion of a side of the bench, showing the wringer support receiving channel partly broken away. Fig. 6, is a vertical sectional view of one side of the bench and wringer-support, taken on the same line as Fig. 3, with the upper portion of the support and the remainder of the bench broken away. Fig. 7, is a front elevation of one side of the wringer-support and also showing a portion of the side frame broken away to more clearly illustrate the pivotal support for the watershed. Fig. 8, is a longitudinal sectional view of the portion of wringer-support shown in Fig. 7, taken just to one side of the water-shed and looking toward it.

Like letters of reference indicate identical parts in the respective figures.

The table or bench comprises four or more legs or supports a, the upper ends of which are preferably made square in cross-section, to receive and have fastened thereto, the side and ends pieces 5, b, and 0, 0. These sides and ends may be secured in place to the legs, in any suitable manner. Properly secured to the lower edges of the sides and ends, is a bottom-piece (Z, the corners of which are preferably cut-away in a manner corresponding to the shape of the upper portion of the legs a, so that a snug joint may be made at this point. The bench top comprises the firmly secured piece 6, and the two slidably mounted pieces f, f, which are provided with the portions 9, which serve not only to give the top a finish but also provide a grasp so that the sections, f, may be pulled out as illustrated in Fig. 1. In order to permit of an easy grasp or hold being taken, the ends 0, c, are cut-away as at it, see Fig. 2, to permit of the insertion of the hand. Extending along the side pieces 6, and secured thereto on the inside of the bench a short distance beneath the top, are longitudinal pieces j, j, (see Figs. 3, 4 and 6); while secured to the under side of the pieces f, f, are pieces 7a, 70, to which are secured the limiting blocks or pieces Z, Z, (see Figs. 3A: and 6); pieces j and 70, forming guides for the slidable pieces f, f, of the bench-top, while blocks Z, Z, prevent the toppieces f, being drawn out too far, as they engage the end-pieces 0. I11 order to lock the slidably-mounted pieces f, f, in their normal position, I provide the block m, one being secured to each top-piece or leaf f, preferably near the center as shown. This block m, is cut-away at the outer or forward end, as shown, thus providing a forwardly extending portion at the lower end, which extends out flush with the end-pieces c, when. the sections f, f, are in normal position, where it may be held or locked in place by the pivoted button a, which is secured to the ends 0, c; the catch being turned as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when it is desired to draw out the top leaves or sections, f, f.

By cutting blocks m, as shown, space is provided for the insertion of the hand or fingers when desiring to draw out the pieces f, Secured on each side of the table or bench, is the metallic grooved plate or supporting guide 0, more clearly shown in Fig. This slide-way or supporting guide, is open at the top-end, and one side and is adapted to receive the ends of a wringersupporting frame, which comprises the top piece 79, two side pieces 1, r, and cross piece 8. The top and cross pieces may either be provided with tenons at their ends to enter mortises in the side pieces, or the frame may be secured together in any other convenient way.

Pivotally mounted between the sides '2, r, and between top 2, and cross-piece s, is a water-shedding member t, which, by reason of the pivots employed, may be swung to either side, as illustrated in Fig. l. I have shown the member t, provided at its ends with metallic pieces 2%, which are preferably provided with a groove or channel to receive the end of the member I, as shown; the metallic pieces t, being screwed or otherwise secured in place. The upper or free ends of pieces 23, are preferably provided with a head-portion to receive bolt or screw 11,- which takes through metallic ring "2;, and into the frame. The ring 1:, which is held against turning, permits of frictional contact with strip t, thereby holding cross-piece t, in its adjusted position, and acts as a washer between the metallicstrip 15 and the frame to prevent wear. Pivotally mounted in a. slot in each sidepiece 1', and at the lower end thereof, is the spring controlled dog 10, which has the shoulder-portion w, which takes beneath the upper portion of the supporting-guide 0, as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 6. The slots in the side-pieces 1', of the wringersupport also have the spring-seat or socket to receive spring a", the other end of which takes into an opening in dog w, as shown. It is apparent, that the normal tendency of spring 00, is to press the upper part of dog to, outward as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, thus having the shoulder w beneath the upper part of guide 0, thereby locking the wringerframe in place. The enlarged upper end or head of dog w, permits of the operation of the dog, which is accomplished by pressing on the head or enlarged upper end of dog w, against the action of spring a2, there by releasing the shoulder from the guide 0, and permitting of the upward with-drawal of the wringer-support. In order to retain the dogs to, in place when the wringer-sup port has been removed from its supporting guide 0, I provide the pin which limits the action of spring 00, thus retaining the dog in proper position in the slot. It is evident from the construction shown, that the wring-support may be simply pressed down into guides 0, without the necessity of pressing the dogs by hand, as the shoulder will ride over the upper part of guide 0, and by the action of the spring, snap into place.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the wringer-support permits of the wringer being operated in either direction, that is clothes may be wrung from a tub on either end of the bench without changing the position of the wringer, and water-shed t, need simply be swung to the side from which the clothes are inserted in the wringer. This will. direct the water wrung from the clothes, into the tub from which the clothes are taken. After the washing has been completed and no further use is had for the tubs, they may be removed and the wringer-support released and slid from its guides and the extended leaves or sections slid back into place and locked by the finger-catches 92 thereby providing a smooth unbroken top that may be used for any purpose desired. The sliding pieces f, f, also permit of access to the interior of the bench, into which articles may be placed that are needed when washing, or any thing desired.

I have illustrated and described what I believe to be the best construction, but a number of alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construct-ion shown and described, but

\Vhat I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bench provided with sides and a sectional top, the top end sections being provided with downwardly extending portions on their lower surfaces between the sides, guide-ways arranged beneath the top and into which said downwardly extending portions take to guide and limit the out-ward movement of said end sections, mechanism located on the bottom of said end-sections and the bench-sides whereby said sections are adapted to be locked in their normal position, a vertically extending frame arranged transversely of the bench-top, and means intermediate of the sides of the bench and the vertical portion of same frame whereby the latter is removably secured in place.

2. A bench comprising a sectional-top, sides, and supports, means intermediate of the end sections and the bench-body whereby said sections may be moved endwise of the bench and retained in place, grooved plates secured to the bench-sides, a frame extending transversely above the bench-top and mounted in said plates, a cross-piece pivotally mounted in said frame, and springcontrolled means mounted in said frame and normally engaging with said plates to lock the frame against vertical movement.

3. A bench having sides of fixed length, provided with grooved plates, supports secured to said sides, a sectional top, means whereby the end sections are slidably mounted and maintained in their extended position, a frame extending transversely of and in a vertical direction above the bench top, the lower endsof said frame taking into the grooved plates on the bench-sides, and spring controlled means mounted in said frame and normally engaging with said plates whereby the frame is locked against vertical movement,

4:. A bench comprising a top, sides, and supports, vertically extending grooves or guide-ways on the bench-sides, a frame taking into said grooves and extending transversely of and in a vertical direction above the bench-top, a cross-piece pivotally mounted beneath the frame-top and adapted to swing to either side of the frame, mechanism intermediate of the cross-piece and frame to frictionally hold the cross-piece in its adjusted position and prevent wear, of the frame and cross-piece, and spring controlled means mounted within the vertical members of the frame and normally extending into said guide-Ways to lock said frame against vertical movement.

5. A bench comprising top, sides, and supports, plates with vertical grooves or guideways secured to the bench'sides, a frame taking into said guide-ways and extending transversely of and in a vertical direction above the bench-top, a cross-piece provided at its ends with metallic frames, the upper ends of which extend beyond the crosspiecc and are pivotally secured to the frame beneath the frame-top, means having frictional contact with the ends of the metallic frames whereby said cross-piece is held in its adjusted position to either side of the frame, and spring controlled dogs mounted in the vertical members of the frame and normally engaging with the upper portion of said plates, whereby the frame is locked in the guide-ways against vertical movement.

6. A bench comprising top, sides, and supports, grooved plates secured to the sides, a frame taking into said grooved plates and extending transversely of and in a vertical direction above the bench-top, a cross-piece pivotally mounted in the frame to swing to either side below its pivotal point, frictionally controlled means whereby said cr0sspiece is held in its swung position, and spring controlled members pivot-ally secured to the vertical members of the frame, normally engaging with said plates and thereby locking said frame against vertical m ovement.

WILLIAM F. BLAKE.

Witnesses NORMAN A. STREET, GEORGE HEIDMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

